smokeybandit

We were told the future cruise program was merely a gift certificate and it could be given to anyone. While we found that wasn't true when a friend tried to book a cruise with it, we were able to get it fixed with a 3-way call with RC. I'm guessing that'll be a "YMMV" situation. One tip with that experience, if you buy a future cruise certificate and you know who you're going to give it to, put it in their name from the start.

Based on that it's not that great of a card (for the purposes of rewards points at least). The best you can do it get 2% back, and the 2% is only for cruises or other items/services purchased from RC. Other cards give you upwards of 5% back based on the purchase for far more purchase categories. For example, to earn $100 in credits with the RC card, I'd have to spend $5000 on a cruise at 2% back. Yet to earn $100 in credits with the Amazon card, I'd just have to spend $2000 on Amazon purchases at 5% back

That's hilarious. It's OK to board a cruise ship in Canada, despite possibly having to face quarantine rules in another country. But not OK to board a cruise ship in another country, due to possibly having to face quarantine rules in another country.

Cruising is essential travel (mental health cleansing if nothing else), so you're good.

Or more simply, getting on the ship for the first time AFTER the scheduled embarkation day, or getting off the ship for the last time BEFORE the scheduled disembarkation day.

For a variant that all reports to date show is the mildest yet

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-trudeau-considers-quarantine-for-fully-vaxed-returning-canadians

Man that's great to hear. I hope that's fleet wide. On Adventure in July it was super strict (and they still quarantined kids for close contacts of an AO kid that tested positive)

Barbados looks great, but man if you're leaving from the USA in any timezone other than Eastern, it's a royal PITA to get there and back.

Keeping them 6 feet apart. Not allowing them to share any toys or supplies. That's the reason slots are so limited.

They desperately need to change AO rules once the CSO expires. You can't keep treating kids like they all have covid with rules have been deemed obsolete and unnecessary over a year ago.

I'm beginning to regret booking a cruise out of Vancouver in June

So they're randomly selecting people to test, and you have to quarantine while you await test results (even if you're asymptomatic), but you can continue to travel to your quarantine spot? What a joke.

There's no way they have 120 on board, especially with crew getting regular testing.

WIth no one accumulating points for a year plus, I don't think those tiers will jump all that much above and beyond what they naturally would have with no shutdown. Certainly some will take advantage, but I don't think it will be overly obvious in the numbers

Ships turn off their onboard cellular within 12 miles of land.

Limited capacity for sure. And a special shout out to how royal Caribbean took care of us as a covid close contact to get us home instead of having to follow bahamas quarantine rules.

Can your daughter see if she can take her exam early, since that was the originally scheduled date?

Same boat here. 21 nights for 84 points and entry into D+

Think of a travel agent as a home warranty for your cruise reservation. You don't truly need them to buy the house, but if something happens to the house after you buy, the agent will do the work to fix it, not you. Certainly a good TA can help you book and can be of great value in the booking process if you have special requests or needs.

I've got 21 scheduled, which is a personal high.

Looks like it's done https://dominicantoday.com/dr/tourism/2021/12/10/the-taino-bay-port-opens-this-month-with-the-arrival-of-its-first-cruise-ships/

Was it foggy in Miami early this morning or other weather-related issue? That's a common reason to get back to port early. It could be a staffing issue with the port pilot. It could be a maintenance issue that needed a few extra hours in port to take care of before the next cruise.

Nassau will be much better next summer once the new port area is done and the rest of town is reopened.

Anyone know of a website that overlays all the Caribbean itineraries onto one amp?